Beleaguered Coetzee awaits his fate

Allister Coetzee’s immediate future as Springbok coach comes under renewed scrutiny in Cape Town today.

The executive council of the SA Rugby Union (Saru) were set to hold a meeting, it was confirmed last week, where a decision would be further discussed.

This news came amid renewed speculation that Rassie Erasmus might be lured back from Munster in Ireland where he held the position of director of rugby, a similar post to the one he held with Saru before resigning last year.

The process to review the performances of Coetzee (left) started in December after the Boks returned from a win-less tour to Europe which included an historic first defeat to Italy and their biggest ever loss to Wales.

Saru President Mark Alexander stated, however, that the process would “only be concluded by the end of January”, suggesting any decisions would be kept under wraps until the end of the month.

It would apparently cost in the region of R13 million to pay out the remainder of his three-year contract, and there was speculation that Saru could not afford the cost.

If they did want Erasmus back on board, it would probably have to be on his terms and he would likely want to be accompanied by Jacques Nienaber, the former Stormers defence coach and Erasmus’ long-time right-hand man.

One of Erasmus’ other demands could include a five-year contract, and while Saru might find it tough to convince politicians that Coetzee should not see out the rest of his term, there was no guarantee he or his assistants would stay on.